The main goal of the project was to inform the public about the conduct of media during the pre-election and post-election phase and to initiate a discussion about the objectivity and quality of the media reporting and to promote their adherence to international standards and best practices regarding freedom of expression and independence of media.

The media monitoring results for the period of 1 – 31 December showed that the media generally continued to focus on forming the governments on different levels. Unlike during the pre-election period when the news coverage suffered from restrictive interpretation of legal provisions on the part of broadcasters which resulted in a limited coverage of political parties in the news, the news coverage in December was characterized by a more intensive coverage of political parties. The monitoring results also indicated that the media continued to be divided along political, ethinic and territorial lines and thus showed their more or less open symphaties towards certain political parties.

The media monitoring results for the period of 1 – 30 November showed that the media in general focused on forming the governments at all levels election results, providing detailed reporting on negotiations amongts political parties. The media continue to be divided along political, ethinic and territorial lines and thus show their more or less open symphaties towards certain political parties.

The findings have so far been compiled into three monitoring reports about the media’s behavior during the election campaign. In the next phase of the project, the monitoring will focus on the media coverage of the post-election developments, including the process of forming the new governments on the state and entity levels of administration.

Media Plan Institute implemented the project “Media and Political Subjects – More Cooperation for a Successful Election Process” , which in five seminars in different parts of the country (Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Sarajevo, Tuzla and Mostar) facilitated exchange of experience between media and political parties on pre-election cooperation thus far. The seminars thus attempted to work out these issues in open discussion and paved the way for better cooperation. This document was produced on the basis of a series of suggestions and critiques presented by 75 journalists and representatives of political parties in five locations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Data from the monitoring period revealed that most monitored media tried to provide such coverage based on which an informed choice at the ballot box would be possible. This was mainly thanks to televised debates and special election programs, as well as the coverage in the print and online media. However, a number of serious problems persist. These include the fact that the editorial policy of media is still determined by the interest of owners and not the interests of the readers or viewers. In addition, contestants’ appearance in the news reports and articles was sometimes determined not based on newsworthiness, but thanks to some other factors.

Data from the second monitoring period confirmed that there have been wide differences in the way political subjects have been portrayed and in the amount of coverage provided to different political subjects. Some monitored outlets have more or less openly showed their sympathies towards particular political parties. The qualitative analysis confirmed that some media continue to neglect to offer voters opposing views on particular stories.

Media Plan Institute in collaboration with the Slovakian organization Memo 98 and America’s NDI started implementing a project dubbed MEDIA MONITORING OF THE 2014 ELECTIONS, consisting of monitoring and analysis of media in the 2014 election campaign.

The press in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the time of war has fostered a critical style of writing on various social trends, prominent individuals, governments, opposition. However, such reporting in times of election campaigns is often on the verge of crossing the line of objectivity and even being on a mission to change political relations in the country. These elections were no exception. Affinities for particular political parties and candidates could clearly be seen. Media division of the country along ethnic and political lines was visible. Also, although they belong to the same Public Service Broadcasting System of BiH, primetime news programs on the three public services in the monitoring period covered the election campaign from significantly different positions. Basically, they continued the divergent editorial policies of these media outlets, which are ethnically and politically opposed especially on the two entity televisions.

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